West Indies defeated Sri Lanka by five wickets in the first T20I, chasing down 180 runs with a total of 181 for 5. Brandon King and Evin Lewis were the stars of the match, scoring 63 and 50 runs, respectively. Their explosive partnership of 107 runs off just 55 balls set the tone for the chase.
Lewis started strong, hitting Chamindu Wickramasinghe for a six and a four in the opening over. However, it was King who truly stole the spotlight during the powerplay, aggressively attacking the bowlers. By the end of the powerplay, King had accumulated 39 runs off 20 balls, including eight boundaries, while Lewis contributed 31 runs off 16 balls. The West Indies finished the first six overs at an impressive 74 runs.
Despite a brief slowdown in the middle overs, the West Indies batters maintained control, with Sherfane Rutherford sealing the victory with a boundary off the first ball of the final over. Shamar Joseph was notable with the ball, conceding only 27 runs in his four overs.
Sri Lanka’s innings saw contributions from Kamindu Mendis and Charith Asalanka, who scored 51 and 59 runs, respectively. Their partnership of 82 runs was the highlight of the innings. However, the West Indies quicks struck early, with Romario Shepherd and Shamar Joseph dismissing key players Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis. Kamindu showcased his talent by scoring 50 runs and taking the crucial wicket of King with his left-arm spin.
In the end, the West Indies displayed a well-rounded performance, setting a solid foundation for the series ahead.
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